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Luis Gonzalez nearing eligibility for National Baseball Hall Of Fame

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Press Release |

As the National Baseball Hall of Fame prepares to host its annual induction ceremonies this weekend in Cooperstown, N.Y., Arizona Diamondbacks legend Luis Gonzalez is just a few months from his first year of Hall of Fame eligibility. Gonzalez, who retired following the 2009 season, is among several marquee names that will be on the ballot in December when the Baseball Writers Association of America vote on the 2014 class.

Among those eligible for the first time with Gonzalez will be Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Jeff Kent and Frank Thomas.

Gonzalez played 19 years in the big leagues, compiling 596 career doubles, the 15th-highest total in baseball history. He posted a .283 batting average, 2,591 hits, 354 home runs and 1,439 RBI during his career with the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins and D-backs.

For his contributions as a player and a member in the community, Gonzalez became the first former player to have his number retired by the D-backs during a pregame ceremony on Aug. 7, 2010.

One of the most popular figures in D-backs history because of the way he interacted with fans and his game-winning single in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series to give the organization its first World Championship, Gonzalez is in his fourth full season as a Special Assistant to D-backs President & CEO Derrick Hall.